Naogaon, Aug. 25 -- A Tk 1.08 crore government project to re-excavate canals in Naogaon's Manda upazila has come under allegations of irregularities, including the inclusion of affluent people and political activists in the list of workers meant to provide employment to the ultra-poor.

The 40-day project, implemented under the Employment Generation Programme for the Poorest (EGPP), was designed to create jobs for 250 ultra-poor people while improving water drainage and reducing waterlogging in the area.

Under the project, canals stretching 3.6 kilometres were to be re-excavated in Kusumba and Varsho unions. The allocation included around Tk 50 lakh for workers' wages, while the rest was earmarked for excavator operations, tree plantatio...